What predator eats only the beak?

[JoshuaRodas80]

This morning I woke up to the chicken coop opened and one leghorn chicken was killed. However, the second leghorn only had its beak and comb eaten. It also had a wound on it’s wing and I decided to put it down. What predator attacks like this? I made sure the doors to the coop were all closed and locked yet the side door was wide open when I found them. I’m in Nashville, Tennessee if that helps.

 

[Matejka]

Raccoon

 

[Weeg]

Either raccoon or weasel. Weasles go for the eyes, and will attach chickens eyes, and face only, and not kill the bird. Raccoons can open doors though. Sounds like a coon to me. A good rule of thumb to keep your raccoons from opening doors, is- If a 3 year old kid can open it, a raccoon can open it. Hope this helps and so sorry for your loss.

 

[Rldad1]

I use double locks on all doors and gates with clevis's. Raccoons are real good at opening doors. Like Weeg says, if a 3 year old maybe a 4 year old can open it so can a raccoon.

 

[cmom]

So sorry for you loss. Not knowing where you live and what predators you may have lurking around, my suggestion would be to put up a game camera. Whatever it was will be back since it made a kill and then you will know what you are dealing with and can form a plan on how to deal with it. Good luck...

 

[cmom]

I have electric wires around my coops and pens and nothing so far has gotten past them. Again, good luck...